Boot-tkee



5 7155 Z //I 4" Ja /57% N. P5555, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON u c UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM UPFIELD, OF LANCASTER, OHIO.

BOOT-TREE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 7,466, dated June 25, 1850.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM UPFIELD, of Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Method in the Use of the Boot-Tree; and I do hereby declare the following is a true and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

A boot tree usually consists of several parts, the upper and lower sections and slides and when applied to use one or more of the slides are required to adapt the tree to the boot; these are retained by the applicant, but instead of operating by means of the slides (which in most cases can be dispensed with) I propose to accomplish the same end by the following method.

Through the center of the lower section of the tree I cut a groove D of say in. width and of 2 in. depth; an iron rod of such diam-- eter as will move freely through this groove, and extending the whole length, with a crank at the upper end, is introduced and in order that this rod may be confined to its place a small bur (E) is attached to its center, moving in the transverse groove H. Screws with reversed threads B, B, are out upon either end of this iron rod, two sliding wedges A, A, are made to fit upon these reversed screws, and in order that these sliding wedges may be elevated or lowered I reduce the ends of the groove first above described at either end of the tree to an angle of say thus forming an inclined plane C. The base of these sliding wedges stands upon the same angle with the inclined groove and when introduced into it are perpendicular to the base of the tree. When the iron rod is introduced with the sliding wedges and the rod turned toward the op erator it will draw down the sliding wedges through the inclined groove, until they are on a level with the upper half section of the tree. When in this condition it is fitted to the upper section of the tree, which is first placed in the boot and the rod now being turned from the operator, the sliding wedges moving up the inclined planes necessarily force the upper and lower sections of the tree apart and in this manner any degree of power can be applied sooner and more effective than by the old method.

To secure a uniform regular motion to the sliding wedges while they pass up and down the inclined groove, I extend or widen their base say of an inch beyond their sides and of about the same-thickness, and this extended base moves through corresponding side grooves inserted at the base of the inclined planes or grooves as in D. In the tops of the sliding wedges a small groove or tongue is prepared to fit corresponding one in the upper section of the tree.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The combination of the sliding wedges A, A, and the right and left screws B, B, with the inclined planes or grooves C, C, substantially in the manner and for the purpose above set forth, the screws B, B, being made to play within the groove D and being confined to its place longitudinally by the bur E working in the groove H.

WILLIAM UPFIELD. WVitnesses:

AMos SMITH,

JOHN GARAGHTY. 

